Project Objectives

• Promote the transition from traditional pedagogy to self-directed and student centred approach to teaching and learning.
• Engage students in real life cases on contemporary Chinese society, develop practical knowledge applicable to everyday problems.
• Foster generic skills including communication, initiative, and a critical approach to learning.

Description of process and deliverables

• 20 cases each with a variety of teaching resources and structured sampler of learning activities.
• Case writers demonstrated first 12 cases and consulted teachers of relevant courses, revised case contents accordingly.
• In response to students feedback, 8 more new cases were developed and adopted by relevant course teachers in classroom teaching.

Evaluation of outcomes

• Two classes intensively adopted the cases in teaching. Students were surveyed to collect feedback on learning experiences. The course teacher has written a brief evaluation report.
• Case study helps a lot to complement conventional lectures, and stimulates students’ learning interests both in and after class.
• Students feedback was highly positive and welcoming. In general education classes with diverse background, students were all surprised and favoured the impacts resulting from learning with cases.

Dissemination of results & deliverables

• Teachers in the Department of Sociology teaching courses relating to China studies received a full package with 20 cases.
• The cases have been implemented in all Chinese Society courses (UGE) with a total of around 400 to 500 students.
• The Sociology Department is going to revise, update and expand the cases in the summer of 2010 with its own resources.